First alarm weather: The warming trend starts today

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – If you’ve ever used a hand pump to inflate a bicycle tire, you’ve experienced how warm the pump can get as the air inside it is compressed. An aspect of the warming that begins today on the Sun Coast will have a similar impact.

Today, as a low pressure area moves into the North Atlantic above us and to our north, it is being replaced by an extensive and expanding high pressure area above and at the surface. This area of high pressure compresses the air on the surface and warms the atmosphere. In addition, the generated northeast wind will push Atlantic air over the Florida Peninsula. This will cause dew points to rise from the very comfortable 50s to the still somewhat comfortable 60s and eventually back to the somewhat humid low 70s by the end of the weekend. The chance of rain will still remain low.

The wind will continue to be strong. They will blow strong enough across the Gulf’s figuratively smooth waters that a small boat warning will remain in effect until the early hours of Monday.

The long and short of it is that many turn on the air conditioning in the afternoon to counteract the rising temperatures, but still find it cool enough to open a few windows in the evening and overnight, especially with the strong winds.

As we begin the next work week, we could see a few days of high temperatures closer to 90 than 80.

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